Electrically controlled manifold valve



Dec. 20, 1960 G. c. ROBITSCHEK ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED MANIFOLD VALVE! Filed Dec. 7, 1959 AIR CLEANER AIR VELOCITY TUBE FIG. 3.

DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION INVENTOR. GEORGE C. ROBITSCHEK wwpzw ATTORNEY FIG. 2.

United States Patent 2,965,084 ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED MANIFOLD VALVE George Conrad Robitschek, 8456 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles 46, Calif.

Filed Dec. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 857,678 7 Claims. (Cl. 123-119) This invention relates to carburetion and particularly to an attachment or adjunct to the carburetion system of an internal combustion engine.

It is well known that vapor-lock can prevent the starting of an internal combustion motor, this condition existing when the intake to the carburetor contains hot gases or vapor fumes. When a hot automobile motor is stopped, the conduits or tubes from the air cleaner to the carburetor become filled with hot gases which must be dissipated before the motor can be started. In motor carburetor systems in which an air velocity tube is used between the air cleaner and the carburetor to provide high efficiency operation, such as in sports cars, the tube provides a trap for hot gases which are detrimental to the rapid starting of the motor shortly after the motor is stopped.

The present invention is directed to a system for opening the air velocity tube immediately upon the stopping of the motor, which will permit the hot gases and vapors to be released and bled from the air velocity tube. This problem has been previously realized and various means for eliminating the hot vapors have been suggested. The present invention, however, is operated electrically by the ignition key so that the bleeder valve is either open or closed, and remains completely open or closed depending upon whether or not the motor is stopped or running, respectively. The valve will not open under any condition of operation of the motor.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate the starting of a hot internal combustion motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bleeding system for the air intake portion of the carburetor system of an internal combustion motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bleeder valve for the air intake portion of the carburetor system of an internal combustion motor which is positive in operation at all times.

A better understanding of this invention may be had from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the principal elements of the air intake system to the carburetor of an internal combustion engine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the bleeder valve embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical portion of the system embodying the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a modification of the invention adapted for manual operation.

Referring, now, to the drawings in which the same reference numerals indicate the same elements, an air intake tube 5 is connected to an air cleaner 6 and by a conduit 7 to an air velocity tube 8. The air velocity tube is shown feeding twin carburetors 9 and 10 in a well known manner.

At the end of the velocity tube 8 is a bleeder valve which is adapted to close an opening 13 at the end of 2,965,084 Patented Dec. 20, 1960 tube 8. The opening in the tube is internally threaded and has threaded therein a valve mounting bushing 14 which carries a plate 15. Attached to the plate 15 in any suitable manner, such as by collars 17 and screws 18, is a solenoid 20 having a casing 26. The solenoid 20 includes a coil 21, an armature 22 having a disc 23 mounted at one end thereof, and which is resiliently biased by a spring 25. Surrounding the opening in the bushing 14 is a fiber heat-resistant washer 27 against which the disc 23 abuts upon the energization of the solenoid 20, the disc 23 closing the opening 13.

As shown in Fig. 3, one side of the coil 21 is grounded and the other side of the coil is connected through the ignition key switch 30 and battery 31 to ground. A distributor ignition unit '32 is also connected to the battery 31 over switch 30. Thus, upon the closing of switch 30, the coil 21 is energized, which will move the disc 23 into contact with the collar 27 to close the opening 13. Upon the opening of switch 30, the spring 25 will remove the disc 23 from the opening 13. Thus, the unit functions under control of the motor ignition key switch 30 so that upon the stopping of the motor, the trapped gases in the conduit 7 and air velocity tube 8 will be drained or bled from these tubes during the stopping period. When it is desired to start the engine, the switch 30 is closed and the opening 13 is closed by the energization of the sole noid 20 and the motor will start immediately. Since the coil 21 will remain energized as long as the key 30 is closed, there will be no accidental opening of the air velocity tube when the motor is subjected to different loads, so that the motor will function normally at all times.

Referring, now, to Fig. 4, a manual unit is illustrated in which the opening 13 is closed by a disc 35 mounted on a crank arm 36 pivoted at 37 and held closed by a spring 38. Connected to the end of the arm 36 is a pull cord or wire 40 which when pulled will remove the disc 35 from the opening 13. When it is decided to start the motor, the pull wire 40 is released and the spring 38 will close the opening 13. Since this is a manually operated unit, it is realized that the operator may forget to open the valve upon the stopping of the motor, while the system disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 will always function with the starting and stopping of the motor.

I claim:

1. In a carburetor system for an internal combustion engine having an intake air velocity tube between the air cleaner and carburetor through which a combustible mixture is supplied to the carburetor, said air velocity tube having an opening therein, the combination of a movable closure for said opening, and solely electrical means under control of the ignition system for operating said closure for closing said opening upon the starting of said engine and for opening said opening upon the stopping of said engine.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means includes spring means for normally holding said closure in open position, said electrical means moving said closure to closed position when said electrical means is energized.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means includes a solenoid adapted to move said closure to closed position when energized and a spring for moving said closure to open position when said solenoid is de-energized.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 in which said solenoid when energized includes a disc moved by said solenoid in one direction to close said opening, said spring means moving said disc in the opposite direction upon the de-energization of said solenoid to open said opening.

5. An adjunct attachable to the air velocity tube between the air cleaner and carburetor of the carburetor system of an internal combustion motor, said tube having a bleeder opening therein at substantially the lowest point on said tube, said adjunct-comprising asolenoid having a central armatureand positioned adjacent said opening, a disc .rnounted on one end of said armature and adapted to be moved to close said opening when said solenoid is energized, and a spring on said armature for moving said armature and disc away from said opening when said solenoid is de-energized.

6. An adjunct in accordance with claim 5 in which said motor is provided with an ignition system, said solenoid being connected to said ignition system and energized upon energization of said ignition systern.

7 An adjunct in accordance with claim 5 in which i said bleeder opening is positioned at the end of said air velocity tube, a bracket being provided, said bracket being mounted on said tube for supporting said solenoid, the axis of said armature being in alignment with the axis of said bleeder opening, movement of said armature toward said opening moving said disc in contact with said tube to close said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,683,444 Miller July 13, 1954 

